Marine Link
Thursday, March 28, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Hood River News

30 Nov 2016

Oscar B: Power in the River Currants

Oscar B (Photo: Cummins)

Since 1925 there has been some form of car ferry crossing of the lower Columbia River from Puget Island on the Washington side to Westport Slough on the Oregon side. In 1959 Wahkiakum County took over operation of the ferry and in 1962 had a steel-hulled ferry, named for the county, built by Nichols Boat Works at Hood River Oregon. This 12-car ferry served until 2015 when the county took delivery of a larger 23-car ferry. This ferry, named Oscar B, after Oscar Bergseng who served as ferry captain for 17 years. He died in 1985 after serving further years as ferry commissioner.

08 Apr 2016

Test Ride: Furuno's New 15X8 Series Radar

Bruce M. (Courtesy SDS Lumber Company)

Taking the Furuno 15X8 series radar out for a spin; Furuno’s newest entry has found a welcome place on inland waters. Furuno’s newest radar is now on the market. The first workboat installation of the company’s FAR-15X8 series was completed in late February and early March. Following installation, test runs were carried out on the Bruce M, a 65-foot, 1,900 Hp inland pushboat operated by SDS Lumber based out of Bingen, Wash. The vessel works the Columbia Snake River system, mainly pushing either construction or wood chip barges.

24 Oct 2011

MSC: Backlog to Continue into 2012

Maritime Services Corporation (MSC), a marine interior company specializing in turnkey installations, reports that it has a backlog of contracts exceeding $10.5m in value for assignments to be completed this November through March. A $6 million contract with Princess Cruise Lines is now in fabrication at the company headquarters in Hood River, Oregon for the Sapphire Princess. Installation will take place in Victoria, B.C. in January. In addition, MSC will begin modifications on two dinner vessels next month for Portland Spirit in Portland, Oregon. Those jobs will also be complete in January. MSC’s Southampton, U.K. office will begin in November a $1.4 million refurbishment contract in Hamburg, Germany for Carnival, U.K. on the Oriana. Also next month, MSC U.K.

21 Apr 2008

Demolition Begins on Boat Works Complex

Workers began to remove the ways building at the former Nichols Boat Works site, the Dalles Chronicle reported. Last week, planners approved a 42-unit townhouse development by Naito Development at that location. Naito bought the 5.5 acre parcel from Nichols Boat Works, Inc. in January, 2007. The building being removed was the third shop used by the boat works in its 57-year history (1940-1997). It was built in 1969 when the Port of Hood River was completing a massive dredge and fill project north of the freeway. As part of the attraction, the fill at the site was sloped properly at six percent for the ways, or skids, from which boats were launched.

14 Jan 2004

Feature: It's About Time and Money Willamette Star "Stretch"

About a year ago Dan Yates, president of American Waterways, Inc., (dba Portland Spirit) of Portland, Oregon had a pleasant, yet vexing problem. His fleet of three dinner cruise vessels was doing good business, but he needed a vessel that could seat 100-140 passengers for a meal function. His fleet included the Crystal Dolphin that held 50 people for dinner, the Willamette Star with a 70 person seated capacity and the 350 passenger (540 for cocktails) Portland Spirit. "We were turning away business that was ideal for a 100-150 passenger vessel. Our Crystal Dolphin was too small and the Portland Spirit too large," Yates reported. "To capture this business our decision came down to buying a new vessel that would seat 100 plus for dinner or rebuilding and lengthening the Willamette Star…

12 Feb 2003

Cruise Industry Annual: Cruise Ship Design Trends Mirror Marine Marketplace

One of the recent major changes in marine interior design is that manufacturers have become aware of the needs of the marine market place. To support these requirements manufacturers have become much more aggressive in trying to get their product specified and tested to IMO standards. First tier manufacturers have realized that there is a large market for products in cruise ship design and manufacturing and that marine design is, by necessity, it's own separate market. Manufacturers realize marine interior designers are very limited in the product range that can be incorporated into marine design. The single biggest challenge for the marine interior designer is fulfilling client needs without sacrificing human safety or the design ambience the client wants to project to passengers.

03 Feb 2000

MSC Europe Experiencing Steady Growth Stream

MSC (Europe) Ltd., the European subsidiary of Maritime Services Corporation, Hood River, Ore. is currently handling various projects throughout the U.K. and Europe, mainly a $2 million conversion of a fast ferry into a casino vessel for Israeli-based Athissa Shipping. MSC provided ship units, project management and fitters for installation of duty free and other shops onboard Fred Olsen's MV Black Watch. The company also installed galley modifications and waste handling equipment onboard Arcalia Shipping's Princess Danae at A&P Falmouth. The company has further extended its expansion capabilities with new offices in Cape Canaveral and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to meet the growing demands in these markets.